With its vivid colors, ripe fruit aroma and ability to induce nostalgia, sangria was the ideal place to begin my wine journey. Its sweet complexity makes sangria more than a drink. It’s a new creation from two different worlds that don’t just come together, they create something new. Sangria mixes classic wine with a new, needed flavor — just like my journey as a winemaker. Because let me tell you, as one of two Black winemakers in Indiana, I add a dash of flavor to an industry that doesn’t always jump to embrace diversity.
Out of more than 11,000 wineries based in the U.S., less than 1% are Black-owned, Black brands. Only .01% of winemakers in the U.S. are Black women winemakers. That disproportionate share drove my passion for creating Sip & Share Wines and propels my desire to create a community for Black and Brown wine lovers who are often overlooked and underrepresented within the wine industry.
Nicole Kearney is the owner of Sip & Share Wines. Read her full story in The Indianapolis Recorder here.
